Radiator



W. F. BOLDT June 9, 1936.

RADIATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1935 INVENTOR. lwrfler Boldt.

A ORNEY.

Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE RADIATOR poration ofOhio Application February 23, 1935, Serial No. 7,789

2 Claims. (Cl. 257-125) This invention relates to radiators of the typewhich are employed in the engine cooling systems of conventional motorvehicles.

It is the object of this invention to provide a radiator which is soconstructed that when the cooling system is filled with liquid a spaceWill automatically be left within the top of the radiator below theoverflow to receive the cooling fluid displaced from the remainingportion of the cooling system by thermal expansion of the coolingliquid.

The use of an expansion space as set forth prevents the loss of coolingfluid through the overflow, and is particularly desirable when costlyanti-freeze solutions are being used in the cooling system.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of myinvention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a radiator for use in the enginecooling system of a motor vehicle, the view showing the relation ofparts with the radiator cap removed, and the disposition of the liquidin the radiator resulting after filling before closure of the fillingtube by the radiator cap.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the radiator taken on the sameplane as Figure 1, the view showing the relation of parts with theradiator cap secured in place in the filling tube, and the dispositionof the liquid in the radiator after filling following the closure of thefilling tube by the radiator cap, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the radiator taken on line3-3 of Figure 1.

The radiator illustrated in the drawing comprises an upper tank I and alower tank 2 connected by cooling tubes 3. It is provided with an inletpipe 4 associated with the upper tank I, including a downwardlyextending portion 4a within the tank I, through which it receives liquidfrom the engine, and with an outlet pipe 5 associated with the lowertank 2 through which liquid leaves the radiator for delivery to theengine.

Mounted upon the upper tank I and extending into such tank, there is ahollow casting 6 which serves as a filling tube for the radiator. Therear wall of the casting 6 is constructed with a boss to located at thetop of the tank I and formed with a bore 6b. Screwed into the upper endof the bore 6b in the boss 6a, there is a mechanism A comprising atubular housing member I, an annular member 8 screwed into the outer endof the housing member, a ball valve 9 mounted in the upper end of thehousing member and designed to engage a seat Bet on the member 8,

and a spring I0 mounted in the housing member below the valve 9 andpressing such part in the direction of its seat So on the member 8.

The casting 6 is formed with a threaded portion at its outer enddesigned to receive a threaded radiator cap II. The radiator cap II isconstructed with a rigidly affixed rod I la which when the cap issecured in place engages and unseats the ball valve 9 opening thepassage through the boss 6a and the mechanism A. 7

An overflow conduit for the radiator is provided in the form of a pipeI2 located at the rear of the radiator and communicating with theinterior of the casting 6 above the tank I through a connectionconsisting of a threaded coupling I3 and a nipple I4.

In accordance with the manner in which the radiator is constructed theupper part of the tank I serves as an expansion chamber to receive thecooling liquid displaced from the remaining portions of the coolingsystem by thermal expansion of the cooling liquid. The manner in whichthe upper portion of the tank I is conserved as an expansion chamberwill hereafter be explained.

Assuming that the radiator has been installed in an engine coolingsystem and is desired to fill the system, filling is accomplished byintroducing cooling liquid into the system by way of the casting 6 untilthe liquid rises in the casting to a position where it can be seen.During the filling operation, the fluid rises in the radiator in anormal manner until the level of the fluid reaches the lower end of thecasting 6 in the tank I. At such stage, the liquid in sealing the lowerend of the casting closes the only means of escape of air from the tankI, the passage through the mechanism A having been closed by the valve 9on removal of the cap II preparatory to filling of the radiator. Thefurther introduction of fluid into the casting 6 after the level in thetank I has reached the lower end of the casting causes but a slight risein level in such tank, and the upper portion of such tank is as a resultleft unfilled even when sufficient fluid has been in-' troduced into thesystem to bring the level of the liquid in the casting to the top ofsuch part. When the cap I I is secured in place in the casting 6following the filling of the system, the rod Ila engages and unseats theball valve 9 allowing air to escape from the upper part of the tank Iand liquid from the casting 6 to flow into the tank I until the liquidin such parts reaches the same level.

The water flowing into the tank I from the casting 6 following unseatingof the valve 9 raises the level of the water in the tank I but a smallamount since the area of the passage in the casting 6 is relativelysmall as compared to the area of the tank I. As a result, a substantialpart of the upper portion of the tank I is left unfilled. This unfilledportion of the tank I remaining after insertion of the radiator cap IIconstitutes the expansion chamber previously referred to, and when theliquid is heated by the engine receives the liquid displaced from theother part of the system returning same upon cooling of the liquid.

Should an attempt be made to fill or replenish the system when full, theliquid will immediately rise in the casting B in consequence of thecommunication through the mechanism A having been closed by the valve 9on removal of the cap II. As a result, the person attempting to fill theradiator will be immediately notified that the system is full; and theonly result of the attempt will be to introduce into the system thesmall amount of liquid poured into the casting 6 with a slight rise ofthe liquid in the tank I when the valve 9 is unseated by the rod Ila onreinsertion of the cap II. Although continued attempts to refill orreplenish the system could result in the upper portion of the tank Ibeing filled with liquid thereby eliminating the expansion space, suchelimination of the expansion space does not happen in practice whenproper care is exercised to avoid too frequent refilling.

Having described my invention, what I claim 15:

1. In a radiator, an upper tank and a lower tank connected by coolingconduits, a filling tube leading into said upper tank and extendingdownward within said upper tank below its entrance into said upper tank,a conduit associated with said filling tube communicating at one endwith the interior of said filling tube and at its other end with theinterior of said upper tank above the lower end of said filling tube, avalve for closing the passage through said conduit, a cap for closingthe outer end of said filling tube, means carried by said cap designedto open said valve when said cap is placed in a position to close theouter end of said filling tube, and an overflow pipe communicating withthe interior of said filling tube.

2. The combination in a radiator, of an upper tank, a filling tubeleading into said upper tank a and extending downward within said uppertank below its entrance into said upper tank, a conduit associated withsaid filling tube communicating at one end with the interior of saidfilling tube and at its other end with the interior of said upper tankabove the lower end of said filling tube, a cap for closing the outerend of said filling tube, means operable to close the passage throughsaid conduit when said cap is removed, means for opening the passagethrough said conduit when said cap is placed in a position to close theouter end of said filling tube, and an overflow pipe communicating withthe interior of said filling tube.

WERNER F. BOLDT.

